The F1 would resume with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, and we already have some expectations for the race. This is the first race since the incident-filled Monaco GP, and we can expect teams to try to avoid the mistakes that cost them in the last race, although the weather was the major contributor to teams’ mistakes.

Max Verstappen sits atop the drivers’ table, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, his main rival this season. Leclerc’s past two races have cost him the number one spot. He finished without points at the Spanish Grand Prix and came fourth in Monaco, despite starting from pole position. He is just 9 points behind Verstappen, and a win this Sunday could see him reclaim the top spot, depending on how Verstappen finishes as well.

Who we are hoping to see some improvement from is Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton’s performance this season has been average, at best. He has finished at the podium just once this season and is always running into one problem or the other.

He has said that the fault lies with the car. But his teammate, George Russell, has, overall, finished better than him this season. Although Russell is yet to win a race, he has made the podium twice this season and currently sits at number four on the drivers’ standings, two spots ahead of Hamilton.

Although this does not mean that Hamilton’s concerns about the W13 are not genuine, it is a bit surprising that his teammate, one who just joined the team, seems to perform better than he. As far as the title race is concerned, Hamilton has said he does not see himself in contention anymore. Instead, he would just focus on doing his best for the team. We are not even close to the halfway point of the season, so Hamilton still has enough time to improve his performance and put himself in line for the title.

Written by: Leon Osamor